NAGOYA, JAPAN— Accor will reportedly add its second Sofitel hotel in Japan following agreement for the rebranding of a prominent hotel in the heart of Nagoya, the countrys fourth-largest city and a major commercial and industrial center. Hotel The Cypress in Nagoya will be rebranded Sofitel The Cypress Nagoya in December. Originally launched as the Century Hyatt Nagoya, the 115-room hotel is owned by Nakamo Sun Route K.K. Accor Asia Pacific Chairman, David Baffsky, said that the hotel would be a significant addition to Accors Japan and global hotel networks. With a population of over two million, Nagoya is one of Japans most important commercial and industrial cities and caters to a large number of domestic and international business travelers, Baffsky noted. Baffsky pointed out that from just one hotel in Japan at the beginning of 2001, Accor has increased its portfolio to five in less than two years. In September, Accor launched the Novotel brand in Koshien (Osaka West) and two Formule 1 hotels have been launched on major arterial routes outside Tokyo. Baffsky said his company is looking at a number of other potential hotel developments and partnerships in Japan and expected substantial growth for all of Accors international brands. Managing DirectorMichael Issenberg said that the new Sofitel will benefit from having a “sister” hotel in Tokyo, as well as Sofitels in key cities in China, Thailand, Korea, Australia and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region. There are currently 160 Sofitel hotels and resorts around the world.
